Alveda Laster recalled how she repeatedly applied for federal loans in the 1980s and 1990s for the 200-plus acre farm that she and more than 100 other family members own.

Laster, 74, said she was turned down every time. Other African-Americans and women, whether white or black, also were turned down, she said. But white men typically were granted loans.

Laster was one of about 25 people who attended a Moreno Valley forum Wednesday, Jan. 16, to learn about a federal program to resolve discrimination claims from women and Latino farmers.

The federal Department of Agriculture has set aside more than $1.3 billion in cash awards and tax-relief payments and $160 million in debt relief to Hispanic and women farmers who can prove loan discrimination that occurred between 1981 and 2000.

Farmers who receive money from the fund must agree not to file lawsuits against the government. The agriculture department has documented years of denied, reduced or delayed farm loans to Latinos, women, African-Americans and Native Americans.

The government previously settled class-action discrimination lawsuits filed by tens of thousands of African-American and Native American farmers.

Thursdayâs forum at the Riverside County Farm Bureau office is the latest in a series that the Agriculture Departmentâs Farm Service Agency has held nationwide to explain the discrimination claims process. A similar meeting was held in Indio in 2011.

âThey want to turn the page on discrimination,â said Nathan Maragoni, a district director for the agency who drove from Bakersfield to answer questions at the meeting.

In addition to Laster, at least two other women who attended the forum -- one who had a farm near Hemet, the other with a farm near Redlands -- said they planned to file claims. They declined to be identified.

The Laster family farm is in Arkansas, and Alveda Laster was visiting family in the Inland area when she heard of the forum. More than half the participants of the forum were from the extended Laster family.

Lasterâs daughter Velinda Laster, 56, of Riverside, was one of them. She said she and all the other owners of the farm were affected by the loan denials because the family was forced to take out more expensive, private loans, reducing their income.

Alveda Laster said sheâs convinced she was a victim of discrimination as a woman and an African-American because the soybean, rice, wheat and cotton farm was financially successful and she still couldnât get loans for new equipment and a new well and irrigation system.

âEvery time we applied for a loan, they said there was no money left,â she said.

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